The Polanski Case, or The Double Standard (Updated)

To prove that nowadays, in America and Europe, we can argue about anything, there is the heated debate over whether to prosecute a man who drugged and raped a 13-year-old girl. Ok, the crime occurred so long ago—more than 30 years ago—and the victim, now a 45-year-old mother of three, has asked authorities to drop charges against the man who sexually abused her.

“But seriously:” as Howard Kurtz

Ah, Fidel!

Hey, you might think that all powerful men are equal, but then again you realize that some of them are more equal than others..

Rainbow alphabet doggerel (U,V)

U is for UnicornI once saw a unicornQuite unexpectedly.It stood upon a mountain sideUnder a eucalyptus tree.Unable to contain myselfI uttered words of joy,Aware of the enchantmentThat I was once more a little boy.The unicorn looked at meAnd seemed to understand.The dream was unforgettable,A utopian wonderland.___V is for VisionThe vulgar vultureWas very vainUntil he viewedHis reflectionIn a

'A Great Good Man'

Irving Kristol, who died one week ago at the age of 89, was undoubtedly one of the most important American political thinkers of the second half of the twentieth century. Yet, for me, as well as for most of my fellow countrymen who have been following American politics for years and happened to follow a similar political path—from liberal to (neo-)conservative, to tell it in a few words—he was

One or two good reasons for supporting The Green Children

As the old proverb goes, “Tell me whom you associate with, and I will tell you who you are.” That is also why I think The Green Children are worth encouraging and supporting. In fact, they work in association with 2006 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus, the father of microcredit, namely the extension of very small loans (microloans) to those in poverty—too poor to qualify for

Autumn Equinox

“ O Autumn, laden with fruit, and stainedWith the blood of the grape, pass not, but sitBeneath my shady roof; there thou may’st rest,And tune thy jolly voice to my fresh pipe;And all the daughters of the year shall dance!Sing now the lusty song of fruit and flowers.”—William Blake, “To Autumn,” 1783Tomorrow is September 22nd, the first day of Fall.I wish you all, dear readers, a pleasant and

Apostasy in Islam

The American Thinker has a piece today about the issue of apostasy in Islam. According to Andrew G. Bostom, both the preamble and concluding articles of the Cairo Declaration, or so-called “Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Islam,” which was drafted and subsequently ratified by all the Muslim member nations of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), make plain that that document

Neo-Racism, The Left, and Opposition to Obama

~ “LETTERS FROM AMERICA” - by The Metaphysical Peregrine ~Political discourse has reached a vile and disgusting low. The view from Conservatives is that Obama and the Democrats are fully ramped up to have the government take over every aspect of the lives of American citizens. In just a few hundred days, huge segments of the insurance sector are now controlled by the government, including the

Speaking Ill of the Dead

~ “LETTERS FROM AMERICA” - by The Metaphysical Peregrine ~Traditionally it shows poor form to speak ill of the dead. In the case of Ted Kennedy, it’s necessary. Statists of course love him. This is the guy that was born into wealth and privilege and spent his life legislating taking money from some people to give to others. He started his career being drunk, driving off a bridge and killing a

Against Anti-Americanism

“Ours is a better world because of America. The world is safer because of the American soldier. The world is wealthier because of American enterprise. The world is healthier because of American technology. No nation is perfect, but imagine the world without America. I reject anti-Americanism. I declare myself a friend of the United States of America.”That’s what is stated in the Global

Honor to the fallen

Lieutenant Antonio Fortunato, 35; Corporal Matteo Mureddu, 26; Corporal Gian Domenico Pistonami, 26; Corporal Davide Ricchiuto, 26; Sergeant Major Roberto Valente, 37; and Corporal Massimiliano Randino, 32. They were paratroopers of the “Folgore” brigade.Thursday’s suicide attack in Kabul was the single heaviest loss of life to be suffered by Italy since two car bombs in Nassiriya, Iraq, killed

Rainbow alphabet doggerel (S,T)

S is for SimpleSailor Simon went to seaIn a ship with a single sail.When a salty storm shook the shipThe sail was slit by the gale.So when all seemed lostAnd the squall shrieked onHe was seized by a shylock squid,'If I take you to shore and save your soul,It would only cost you a quid.'(When sailor Simon went to seaHe only took sixpenceHe surmised that if he offered thatThe squid would take

'Your "allegria," the true one, has just begun!'

Mike Bongiorno has passed away. An American-born Italian television host, he was undoubtedly one of Italy’s most enduring and beloved TV personalities, the man who popularized quiz shows for generations of Italians. He was also known by the nickname il Re del Quiz (The Quiz King), and his gaffes—real or presumed—were legendary almost as his trademark greeting to viewers—“Allegria!” (“Cheers!”).As

'Standardization by a low standard'

“ To put it shortly, the evil I am trying to warn you of is not excessive democracy, it is not excessive ugliness, it is not excessive anarchy. It might be stated thus: It is standardisation by a low standard. ” ~ Gilbert Keith Chesterton, “Culture and the Coming Peril” (lecture delivered at the University of London, reprinted in the “Chesterton Review,” Vol. 18, No. 2, August, 1992).

Dino Boffo steps down

Epicureans showed little interest in participating in politics, since doing so leads to trouble. So they preferred to live without pursuing glory or wealth or power, but anonymously, enjoying little things like food, the company of friends, etc. Now one might think that their favorite saying, Lathe biōsas (λάθε βιώσας, meaning “live secretly,” “get through life without drawing attention to